PARIS, ( SANA )_ President Bashar al-Assad said Friday: ” What Syria wants of France is to be an active state in the framework of the peace process, especially if we have to move from indirect negotiations with Israel for direct negotiations in addition to the interest in the Syrian-French partnership, ”

In an interview with French newspaper ” L’ Humanite ” the President added that the Syrian-French relations require more political dialogues and developing economic relations in the field of oil exploration, electric power and transportation, especially, the aviation field and regional trade in general.

He said: ” France is keen on stability in the Middle East, the peace process, settling the political crisis in Lebanon, the future of Iraq and on the Palestinian reconciliation with the aim of completing the peace process in addition to fighting terrorism,” pointing out that Syria is an active country in all fields.

President al-Assad underlined that the Doha agreement in addition to indirect negotiations with Israel helped understanding the position of Syria regarding peace and the relations with Lebanon.

He mentioned that the change in the French policy is linked to the arrival of President Nicolas Sarkozy to the presidency, pointing out that what interests Syria regarding France relations with NATO is the repercussions of these relations on Syrian interests.

” It is necessary to strengthen role of France to push the United States to be more positive toward the Arab issues in the region,” the President said, pointing out that the U.S. role is fundamental in the peace process but its relations with Israel is distinguished and there is no European country able to replace the United States in its relations with Israel.

President al-Assad added: ” The European role is complementary to the American one but Americans are not trying to understand what is happening in the region and France is able to help them understanding the reality of the region,”

Regarding impacts of the new Syrian-French relations on the Syrian-Iranian ones, the President explained that there is no connection between stability and severing relations between Syria and Iran, on the contrary, the effective role of Syria in achieving stability in the region requires to establish dialogues with all countries in the region including Iran, and Turkey.

He went on to say: ” The policies of isolation that was practiced against some countries by the United States, in the recent years and adopted by some European countries, created chaos and extremism that generated terrorism,” pointing out that Syria adopts policy of integration, acceptance of dialogue and rejection of dictations and stressing that isolating Iran will not halt its nuclear program and Syria encourages France to hold a dialogue with Iran.

On the indirect Syrian-Israeli negotiations, His Excellency said: ” We are working on two axes, the first is to build confidence and conviction that Israel is serious in the peace process and the second is the common ground that allows conducting direct negotiations.

The President mentioned that the Turkish role is the role of mediator, but direct negotiations need a sponsor or a godfather to exercise pressure on the parties.

He pointed out that what is happening today is not different from what was formerly where we are talking about a just and comprehensive peace and the comprehensive peace means a peace on all tracks and there should be discrimination between the signing a peace agreement with Syria and achieving peace in the region.

” What interests us is the United Nation’s resolution No. 242,” Regarding Iran’s nuclear file President al-Assad clarified that Iran has the right to obtain nuclear reactor and energy production and these rights should be recognized.

He pointed out that the United States position is different from the European attitude towards Iranian nuclear file where the U.S. is trying to raise the war and search for excuses but Europe puts pressure and avoids war and there is unanimity among the Europeans on this position.

DAMASCUS (SANA)- The20th Arab Summit concluded its deliberations on Sunday by issuing the Damascus Declaration. Arab solidarity, national security and revitalizing the mechanisms of Arab joint action featured prominently.

The Declaration read by Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa in a press conference , highlighted the following topics:

– Commitment to bolstering Arab solidarity to protect Arab national security and to guarantee for each Arab country’s safety , sovereignty, the right to defend itself and non-interference in its internal affairs, in addition to implementing the resolutions of previous Arab Summits and Arab joint action organizations, improving the role of the Arab League and supporting its efforts to develop a working Arab system.

-Working to surpass inter-Arab disputes through deep, effective dialogue and to overcome weaknesses in some aspects of joint Arab action. -Giving priority to the higher interests of the Arab nation over any arguments or disputes , and for dealing firmly with any foreign interference that attempts to stoke inter-Arab disputes.

-Standing together in the face of economic and political pressure campaigns imposed by certain countries on any Arab and for taking necessary steps to confront such action. -Unifying Arab stance towards any issues presented at international conferences.

-Allotting Arabic language special attention , so that it may keep up with scientific developments in an age when globalization and information and become a means to face attempts of the defamation and westernization of Arab culture.

– Achieving stronger cooperation in the light of the joint responsibility to support Arab economic integration projects, leading to a Common Arab Market, in addition to working to guarantee the success of the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit which will be held in Kuwait in 2009.

– Regarding the challenges facing the Arab nation, the Declaration announced the following :

-Continuing to provide all forms of political, material and moral support to the Palestinian people in their struggle against Israeli occupation and its hostile policies and practices, affirming the unity of rank among all Palestinians.

-Warning against excessive Israeli policies of siege and attack, particularly in the Gaza Strip, and treating them as war crimes that require immediate action, demanding Israel to immediately cease such hostile practices against civilians, in addition to calling on the Security Council to assume greater responsibility regarding this issue and urging all parties concerned to end the siege and to provide basic human needs for Palestinians.

– Working to achieve a just and comprehensive peace for the Middle East according to relevant resolution of international law, the “land –for- peace” formula , and the Madrid term of reference in order to guarantee the restoration of legitimate Arab rights , the return of Palestinian refugee to their homeland, establishing an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, the complete Israeli withdrawal from the occupied Syrian Golan to the June 4th 1967 line, and the Israeli withdrawal from all remaining occupied Lebanese territories.

-Affirming that the joint Arab will to propose the Arab peace initiative is linked to Israel carrying out its commitments within the framework of international term of reference for peace.

-Making a thorough evaluation and revision of present Arab strategy regarding efforts to revive the peace in order to decide on the next move in light of such evaluation.

-Expressing support and appreciation for the efforts under the leadership of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the initiative for achieving Palestinian national reconciliation, affirming Palestinian unity and the integrity of Palestine’s land and people, in addition to continuing efforts and coordination with the Arab League Secretary General to achieve a united position.

-Keeping Iraq’s territorial integrity and unity of its Arab and Islamic identity outlining the necessity of complete national reconciliation, quick withdrawal of foreign forces, guaranteeing its stability, security and full sovereignty.

Calling on our brothers in Iraq to immediately stop the shedding of blood to preserve the lives of innocent citizens and their property as well as the adoption of dialogue to end differences and to reach national consensus and unity. -Commitment to the Arab initiative to help Lebanon end of its crisis, supporting current efforts by the Arab League Secretary General to encourage Lebanese parties reach a consensus among themselves to cope with this predicament to preserve the country’s unity, stability and general prosperity.

-Stressing Arab solidarity with Syria regarding the so-called Syria Accountability Act as a violation of the international law and UN resolutions.

-Encouraging the current contacts between the United Arab Emirates and Iran in order to solve the issue regarding the UAE’s three islands of Greater and Lesser Tunbs and Abu Musa through legal procedures and peaceful means so that the UAE can restore its islands and preserve fraternal Arab-Iranian relations means of developing them.

-Stressing Sudan’s territorial integrity and stability, its rejection of foreign intervention in its internal affairs, supporting efforts to implement the ongoing peace agreement, dealing with Darfur, and calling on all regional and international parties to help the Sudanese government establish peace and to restore security and stability in the province.

-Stressing Somali’s unity, sovereignty and stability, renewing support of national reconciliation and helping the country overcome the current crisis.

-Stressing a desire for national unity of the Republic of the United Comoros Islands, its territorial integrity and support all efforts To develop the country.

-The mounting attack on Islam and the phenomenon of anti- Islamism have been a source of great concern, particularly as we see anti- Islam abuse on the rise in countries marked by diversity.

This sharp polarization necessitates greater work to narrow the gap which has been widening among cultures and civilizations. Out of this, cooperation between the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) and other relevant organizations is a matter of importance in order to confront these phenomena.

-Condemning and combating it to eliminate terrorism and remove its sources, in addition to denouncing attempts to link terrorism to Arabs and Muslims, and renewing calls for holding an international conference supervised by the UN to define terrorism, identify its causes, and differentiate between it and peoples’ right to resist occupation.

-Working to make the Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, mainly nuclear weapons, and calling on the international community to force Israel to join the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty and place its nuclear facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in addition to affirming nations’ right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes according to the standards and regulations of IAEA.

Tehran,(SANA)- Iranian President , Mahmoud Ahmadinejad , has underlined the deep strong standing relations between Iran and Syria, and the necessity for boosting them to meet the national interest of both and for reinforcing their steadfastness in the face of the various challenges. During his meeting with Prime Minister , Mohammed Naji Otri today, Ahmadinejad expressed appreciation of Syria’s stances under the leadership of President, Bashar al-Assad , and of Syria’s pivotal and important role on all regional and international levels. He indicated that the developments in the region and in the world have proven the correct stances of the two countries , as well as their righteous joint vision regarding these developments. Ahmadinejad was briefed by Otri and by Iranian First Vice President , Parviz Davoodi , on the outcome of the meetings of the Syrian-Iranian Higher Committee , which falls in the service of the joint issues of cooperation in various domains. A.N.Idelbi